Gertrude M. (Crooks) Wilkinson, 87, of Parsons, died at 10:55 p.m., Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Elm Haven East Nursing Home in Parsons. She had been in failing health the past four years.
Born to Leonidas Morton and Deborah Mary (Fesmire) Crooks in rural Neosho County on the family farm Aug. 1, 1921, Gertrude was the last of nine brothers and sisters. As a young girl, she grew up in Neosho County where she attended Union School not far from the family home. Gertrude was a 1939 graduate of Parsons High School and later earned an associate's degree from Labette Community College. During World War II, Gertrude worked as a government inspector on the fuse line at the Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons.
When the war ended, she and Paul Newton Wilkinson were married April 14, 1946 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Parsons. They moved into the government provided housing at Sunflower Village, near DeSoto, Kansas, while Paul attended school at the University of Kansas. While her husband attended university, Gertrude worked for King Radio Co. and also the KU Student Union, both in Lawrence. When hostilities broke out in Korea in 1950, she returned to Parsons where she worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant until the close of the conflict. Shortly after their son, Donald, was born in 1953, they moved to Halstead, Kan., where her husband was employed at Hertzler Clinic, and remained there until 1963 when they moved to Kirksville, Mo.
Following her husband's death in September 1976, she went to work as a housekeeper for Bonfoey Inn and the Adair County Nursing Home, then later for Hollister Corp., before moving to Parsons in 1978. Gertrude was employed in the cafeteria service for U.S.D. 503 until she retired and continued to work part-time until 1998.
Gertrude was a member of the First Christian Church in Parsons, a 49-year member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 5, The Social Order of the Beauceant Assembly No. 6, both in Newton, Kan., Masonic Lodge No. 407 in Halstead, Kan., and the American School Food Service Association. She had served as chairperson on the United Way while living in Halstead and was a member of the Labette Community College Alumni Association.
During her earlier years, she enjoyed being Cub Scout den mother. Gertrude was an avid Kansas City Chiefs football and St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, travel, and collecting trivets and Hummel figurines.
SURVIVORS:
One Son – Don Wilkinson Joplin, MO
Two Brothers – Leon Crooks Parsons, KS
Gilbert "Jiggs" Crooks Parsons, KS
Thirteen Nieces & Nephews
Numerous Great-Nieces & Nephews
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Dale B. Crooks, Eugene Crooks, Ira H. Crooks, and James F. Crooks; and two sisters, Nola (Crooks) Sutherland and Gail (Crooks) Wright.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 15, 2009, at the First Christian Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to the Shriner's Childrens Hospital in St. Louis. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, Kan. 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gertrude M. Wilkinson, please visit our flower store.
Born to Leonidas Morton and Deborah Mary (Fesmire) Crooks in rural Neosho County on the family farm Aug. 1, 1921, Gertrude was the last of nine brothers and sisters. As a young girl, she grew up in Neosho County where she attended Union School not far from the family home. Gertrude was a 1939 graduate of Parsons High School and later earned an associate's degree from Labette Community College. During World War II, Gertrude worked as a government inspector on the fuse line at the Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons.
When the war ended, she and Paul Newton Wilkinson were married April 14, 1946 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Parsons. They moved into the government provided housing at Sunflower Village, near DeSoto, Kansas, while Paul attended school at the University of Kansas. While her husband attended university, Gertrude worked for King Radio Co. and also the KU Student Union, both in Lawrence. When hostilities broke out in Korea in 1950, she returned to Parsons where she worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant until the close of the conflict. Shortly after their son, Donald, was born in 1953, they moved to Halstead, Kan., where her husband was employed at Hertzler Clinic, and remained there until 1963 when they moved to Kirksville, Mo.
Following her husband's death in September 1976, she went to work as a housekeeper for Bonfoey Inn and the Adair County Nursing Home, then later for Hollister Corp., before moving to Parsons in 1978. Gertrude was employed in the cafeteria service for U.S.D. 503 until she retired and continued to work part-time until 1998.
Gertrude was a member of the First Christian Church in Parsons, a 49-year member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 5, The Social Order of the Beauceant Assembly No. 6, both in Newton, Kan., Masonic Lodge No. 407 in Halstead, Kan., and the American School Food Service Association. She had served as chairperson on the United Way while living in Halstead and was a member of the Labette Community College Alumni Association.
During her earlier years, she enjoyed being Cub Scout den mother. Gertrude was an avid Kansas City Chiefs football and St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, travel, and collecting trivets and Hummel figurines.
SURVIVORS:
One Son – Don Wilkinson Joplin, MO
Two Brothers – Leon Crooks Parsons, KS
Gilbert "Jiggs" Crooks Parsons, KS
Thirteen Nieces & Nephews
Numerous Great-Nieces & Nephews
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Dale B. Crooks, Eugene Crooks, Ira H. Crooks, and James F. Crooks; and two sisters, Nola (Crooks) Sutherland and Gail (Crooks) Wright.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 15, 2009, at the First Christian Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to the Shriner's Childrens Hospital in St. Louis. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, Kan. 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gertrude M. Wilkinson, please visit our flower store.
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